Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Announced [Press Release/Specs]

Well people, the wait for the next big phablet is over. Samsung has officially taken the wraps off of its latest Galaxy Note 3, complete with updated hardware and a handful of new features. The biggest difference is the screen; Samsung successfully managed to fit a bigger screen into the body of the phone without adding much extra bulk. The Note 3 will have a 5.7 inch, full 1080p display, but the Note 3 is a bit slimmer than the Note 2, weighing in at only 168 grams while being only 8.3 mm thin. As you can see in the picture to the right, the bezel on this thing is impressively small, as Samsung claims to have widened the screen as opposed to adding any height to it.

As far as tech specs go, Samsung didn’t skip on anything. You’ll get a full 1920 x 1080 AMOLED screen, a massive 3,200 mAh battery, a 13 megapixel camera with Smart Stabilization that claims to do well in low light, and a whopping 3 GB of RAM, which is also an industry first for any manufacturer. Samsung will also be releasing the Note 3 in 32 GB and 64 GB options, finally doing away with the paltry 16 GB option. Of course, you’ll still have your microSD card slot, so if you’re the type of person to hoard tons of digital files, the Note 3 fits the bill. Samsung is also releasing a pink version of the device in addition to the regular white and black options ( Above ).

Of course, no Samsung device announcement would be complete without throwing in a ton of extra software features. The Note 3 has several enhancements to current TouchWiz features, but it also brings a few new ideas to the table. First introduced in the Note lineup, the Air View actions have gotten an update. Now, whenever you float the S Pen above the Note 3 screen, you’ll be able to click the S Pen button to get a pop up window for extra functionality. S Note has also gotten a few extra tweaks, allowing you to better organize your notes, including PC syncing and Evernote integration, to find them later with Samsung’s new S Finder app, as well as now being able to write down phone numbers to save them as contacts. There are also several new S Pen gestures, including drawing a circle over anything to save it to your personal scrapbook and drawing a square to open up a pane for opening certain applications in addition to traditional writing and sketching. Other Samsung features have also gotten improvements, including a video sharing addition to Group Play that lets multiple phones connect to display an image or video across multiple screens. Samsung’s Multi-Window has gotten enhancements, such as being able to open the same app in both windows if you wanted to simultaneously look at two web pages or have two conversations in ChatOn. It’s also worth mentioning the Note 3 will launch with Android 4.3.

Samsung says the device will be available on September 25th worldwide, with launches on US carriers coming “later this year.”

You can check out Samsung’s full press release below, and we’ll be sure to keep you updated on the new features as we learn more.

Design the Story of your Life with Samsung GALAXY Note 3 September 4, 2013 Enhanced S Pen features and larger screen optimized for multitasking  provide a delightful mobile experience that brings passions to life  Berlin, Germany – September 4, 2013 - Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. today introduced GALAXY Note 3, the latest update to the Note product line. The new Samsung GALAXY Note 3 adds delight to daily tasks and infuses innovative features that help consumers tell the story of their lives. Samsung GALAXY Note 3 delivers a larger and better screen for the best viewing experience and more powerful multitasking, and introduces significant S Pen improvements that make everyday life easier and faster.  GALAXY Note 3 makes your everyday life amazing “We introduced the original GALAXY Note in 2011 and launched a whole new smart device category. The undeniable success of the GALAXY Note strengthened our conviction that consumers want higher quality features for smart devices and they want those new features to make their lives better,” said JK Shin, CEO and President of IT & Mobile Division at Samsung Electronics. “Samsung GALAXY Note 3 is a powerful, original approach that enables users to tell the stories of their lives through dynamic and seamless expressions of their passions across work, play and life experiences. With a simple click of the S Pen button, users can unlock opportunities for self-expression, features that transform everyday activities into extraordinary events and access to new experiences delivered to them on Note 3’s larger screen.” Samsung GALAXY Note 3 comes with a wider (5.7inch) full HD Super AMOLED display, yet slimmer (8.3mm) and lighter (168g) hardware design, and more powerful and longer lasting (3,200mAh) battery. Also, equipped with a 13 megapixel rear camera with Smart Stabilization and high CRI LED flash, Samsung GALAXY Note 3 enables users to crisply capture every visual story in their lives, even in low light and active situations. Samsung GALAXY Note 3 offers the latest LTE technologies – CAT4 Carrier Aggregation and supports the greatest number of multiple frequencies. Incorporating the industry’s largest 3GB RAM, the GALAXY Note 3 also provides faster and more powerful performance.  Balancing GALAXY Note 3’s strength with artistic design In addition to meaningful technological advancements, Samsung GALAXY Note 3 delivers a new premium look and feel. Expanding on the modern Samsung GALAXY design approach, Samsung GALAXY Note 3 adds a soft and textured-touch back cover and delicate stitching. It also features a serration pattern on the side of the device that evokes a connection to the timeless and enduring strengths of classic notebooks and planners. Samsung GALAXY Note 3 will be available in Jet Black, Classic White and Blush Pink. In order to encourage its customers to express their personality and taste, Samsung will also offer exchangeable back covers in dozens of additional colors at launch.  Click S Pen to make life easier, faster and more exciting The new S Pen reinvents and modernizes the classic note-taking experience by providing the ability to accomplish everyday tasks with just one click. The advanced S Pen is designed to be fully functional as a communication driver between the phone and the user by creating essential input and control features. It plays an integral role in how users interface with the device, making all daily routines easier.  A simple click of the S Pen button while hovering over the screen introduces users to Air Command, a palette of five powerful features that truly make tasks easier and faster. With the Air Command feature, there is no need to toggle between screens, memorize commands or look up different menus. The Air Command feature provides access to the following key functions:  Action Memo allows users to handwrite a note, and automatically execute a function or convert that handwritteninformation into formatted content. Action Memo can instantly initiate a call, add to contacts, look up an address on a map, search the web, save a task to a to-do list, and more Scrapbook enables users to organize or track down content and information from various sources including the web, YouTube and Gallery in one place so that users can easily look back at collected content all at once. When consumers save content for future use, Scrapbook also collects source material or URLs allowing them to easily refer back to the original source.  The Screen Write feature captures the full screen image of the current page on the device and allows users to write comments or additional information onto the captured image. S Finder allows users to expansively search for content on their device regardless of the type. By putting in keywords or filters such as date, location, and content type, users can search related documents, events, communication threads, and even the Help page – all in one place. In addition, users can also search for hand-written content in their Notes and memo applications, as well as symbols and formulas. Pen Window allows users to use the S Pen not only for drawing sketches or writing notes, but now also for opening a small application window for a true multitasking experience. Simply by drawing a window of any size, anywhere on the screen, users can easily and quickly open another application window such as YouTube, calculator or Browser without pausing current activity on the screen. For more advanced note-taking, the new S Note presents a comprehensive solution that enables consumers to easily write, organize, edit and browse notes with a user-friendly interface and the Easy Chart feature. The new S Note can also be synced with Evernote or a Samsung account and be enabled for accessing and viewing from different devices. Furthermore, when a user wants only a certain part of an image to be taken from the web or Note 3 content, the advanced new Easy Clip feature allows them to roughly draw around the desired image and then it converts that content into a more precisely cropped image. Larger Note screen delivers enriched viewing experience and enables you to do more The Samsung GALAXY Note 3 delivers a larger screen and the increased size is matched with powerful improvements that allow users to fully utilize the additional screen space. The 5.7-inch Full HD Super AMOLED screen provides a stunning and defined video viewing experience for watching Full HD content, distinct clarity for reading and an elegant canvas for content creation.  My Magazine provides a personalized news, social media, entertainment and in-the-moment content experience. Developed through a partnership with Flipboard, it offers an integrated content consuming experience in a modern and dynamic magazine-style layout.  The GALAXY Note 3 enables enhanced multitasking capabilities that allow users to fully utilize the larger screen. With the new Multi Window, users can toggle seamlessly between applications without closing the window or opening a new page, allowing for enhanced productivity and collaboration across programs. Consumers can also run one application in two windows at the same time. For instance, users can read the news in one browser while conducting a web search in another, or send an instant message through ChatON to a friend while reading a message from another friend. In addition, using Drag and Drop mode within the new Multi Window, users can easily drag and drop content such as a text or image from one window to the other in an instant.  Pen Window from Air Command further enhances multitasking experience by allowing consumers to draw a window on the screen and launching popular applications while continuing current tasks on the GALAXY Note 3. An improvement to Group Play, video sharing, is now available. Originally introduced along with the GALAXY S4, Group Play allows users to play the same music, to play games together, and to share documents. It now enables consumers to share videos and play content together with their friends simultaneously. Users can also connect up to five devices alongside each other to create a “big screen” viewing experience.  Samsung KNOX & Find My Mobile The new GALAXY Note 3 comes with enhanced privacy and security protection provided by Samsung KNOX. Users can activate Samsung KNOX with ease which allows them to run and store security-sensitive applications and data inside a protected execution environment called “container.” The security inside the container is strengthened by system-level protection of Samsung KNOX against malware and phishing attacks as well as hacking attempts on physical devices when devices are stolen or lost. For instance, important personal pictures or video can be stored in the container with no worries for data leakage due to hacking. In addition, users may choose to store enterprise applications and data such as corporate email, contacts and calendar and allow the IT department to manage the container through EAS (Exchange ActiveSync Server). These features make the GALAXY Note 3 an ideal device for BYOD (Bring-Your-Own-Device to work) Furthermore, the GALAXY Note 3 is equipped with an improved Find My Mobile feature that allows users to disable the phone when it is stolen or lost. With the enhanced user authentication, the technology prevents stolen mobile phones from being reset to factory settings, and allows users to remotely track or erase the data from their lost or stolen mobile phones. GALAXY Gear, the smart companion for GALAXY Note 3 Simultaneously announced with Samsung GALAXY Note 3, GALAXY Gear is a new concept device that allows users to live life in the moment while staying connected. GALAXY Gear will notify users and give them quick previews of incoming texts, emails and more coming from GALAXY Note 3. It will provide a range of other valuable features and commands that extend the GALAXY Note 3 experience. When an incoming message requires more than a quick glance, users can simply pick up their Samsung GALAXY devices and the Smart Relay feature will instantly reveal the full content on the screen. Together, GALAXY Note 3 and GALAXY Gear extend Samsung’s efforts to provide users with the opportunity to design their lives, to express their passions and to make everyday life more easy and enjoyable. Available in 32GB or 64GB internal storage along with an additional microSD card slot, the Samsung GALAXY Note 3 and GALAXY Gear are set to launch starting from September 25 in more than 140 countries around the world. The Samsung GALAXY Note 3 will also be available in the U.S. later this year on AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless and U.S. Cellular. The GALAXY Note 3 will be on display at the Samsung booth # 20 at IFA 2013, September 6 through September 11, 2013. Full details, video content and product images are available at www.samsungmobilepress.com or m.samsungifa.com. Note to Editors: Endorsement by Mobile Operators:  Deutsche Telekom: Heikki Makijarvi, SVP Global Partnerships “Deutsche Telekom customers have been consistently satisfied by GALAXY Note products and the inspirational GALAXY Note 3 promises to generate new excitement. We are keen to further extend our strategic partnership with Samsung and look forward to introducing the GALAXY Note 3 in Europe. The latest addition to the Note product line incorporates meaningful updates like LTE Cat4 and Multi Window which will deliver great value for our customers,” said Heikki Makijervi, SVP of Global Partnerships. “Deutsche Telekom launched LTE already in 8 countries in Europe and LTE CAT4 will bring even more speed and comfort to our consumers. Orange: Yves Maitre, EVP mobile multimedia & devices at Orange “Orange is delighted to be one of Samsung’s key partners in bringing the Galaxy Note 3 and GALAXY Gear to our markets. Wearable and connected devices are paving the way for consumers to be connected to all the things they love and Orange is excited to bring this latest innovative offering to our customers.” said Yves Maitre, EVP mobile multimedia & devices at Orange. “As Orange has already launched LTE networks in 7 countries, our customers will be some of the first in Europe to enjoy even faster download speeds and benefit from the Cat4 support on Samsung’s GALAXY Note 3.” Telefonica: Francisco Montalvo, Group Devices Director in Telefonica “Samsung GALAXY Note 3 is a strong evolution of the GALAXY Note product line from a company that has a strong understanding of consumer’s needs. Samsung’s focus on making everyday activities easier and more joyful will generate wide appeal within our multi-country subscriber base.” Vodafone: Patrick Chomet, Global Director Terminals at Vodafone “The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 continues to push the limits of what’s possible, giving customers access to the mobile internet on large vivid screens yet in a portable format. It’s the perfect match for Vodafone’s fast HSDPA＋ and 4G networks and we will be offering the device on Vodafone RED with a unique set of services such as Vodafone Cloud, Contacts, mCare, and contextual search from Kikin”.

 Samsung GALAXY Note 3 Product Specifications

Network	2.5G (GSM/ GPRS/ EDGE): 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz
	3G (HSPA＋ 42Mbps): 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 MHz
	4G (LTE Cat 4 150/50Mbps) : up to 6 different band sets (Dependent on market)
Processor	LTE 2.3 GHz Quad-Core Processor
	3G 1.9 GHz Octa Core Processor ( A15 1.9 GHz ＋ A7 1.3 GHz)  The selection of AP will be differed by markets.
Display	5.7inch (144.3mm) Full HD Super AMOLED (1920 x 1080)
OS	Android 4.3 (Jelly Bean)
Camera	Main(Rear): 13 Mega-pixel BSI Sensor, Auto Focus camera with Smart Stabilization, LED Flash(High CRI), and Zero Shutter Lag. Sub (Front): 2 Mega-pixel BSI sensor with Smart Stabilization, Full HD recording @30fps. Dual Camera: Dual Shot / Dual Recording/ Dual Video Call  Recording: UHD 30fps, Smooth motion (FHD 60fps), Slow motion (HD 120fps)  Camera Mode: Drama Shot, Sound & Shot, Animated Photo, Eraser, Best Photo, Best Face, Beauty Face, HDR (High Dynamic Range), Panorama, Sports, Golf, Surround shot, Live effect
Video	Codec: H.264, MPEG-4, H.263, VC-1, WMV7, WMV8, Sorenson Spark, MP43, VP8, HEVC  Recording & Playback: Full HD (1080p), UHD (＊may differ by market)
Audio	Codec: MP3, AAC/AAC＋/eAAC＋, WMA, AMR-NB/WB, Vorbis, FLAC(＊), WAV(＊)  (＊) Ultra High Quality Audio (~192KHz, 24 bit) support
S Pen Optimized Features	Air Command: Action Memo, Scrapbook, Screen Write, S Finder, Pen Window, S Note, Multi Window, new Easy Clip, Direct Pen Input
Additional	Features Group Play: Share Music, Share Picture, Share Video, Share Document, Play Games Story Album, S Translator Samsung Smart Scroll, Samsung Smart Pause, Air Gesture, Air View Samsung Apps, Samsung Hub, ChatON (Voice/Video Call, Share screen, 3-way calling), Samsung WatchON S Voice™ Hands Free, S Health Samsung Adapt Display, Samsung Adapt Sound Auto adjust touch sensitivity (Glove friendly) Samsung Link, Screen Mirroring Safety Assistance, Samsung KNOX
Google Mobile Services	Chrome, Search, Gmail, Google＋, Maps, Play Books Play Movies, Play Music, Play Store, Hangouts Voice Search, YouTube, Google Settings, Play Games, Messenger
Connectivity	WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (HT80)  GPS / GLONASS NFC, Bluetooth® v 4.0 (LE) IR LED (Remote Control), MHL 2.0
Sensor	Gesture, Accelerometer, Geo-magnetic, Gyroscope, RGB  Proximity, Barometer, Temperature & Humidity, Hall Sensor
Memory	32/ 64 GB User memory ＋ microSD slot (up to 64GB)  3GB RAM
Dimension	151.2 x 79.2 x 8.3mm, 168g
Battery	Standard battery, Li-ion 3,200 mAh

＊ The availability of each Samsung Hub and Google service may differ by country.

＊ All functionality, features, specifications, and other product information provided in this document including, but not limited to, the benefits, design, pricing, components, performance, availability, and capabilities of the product are subject to change without notice or obligation. 

＊ Android, Google, Android Beam, Google Search, Google Maps, Gmail, Google Latitude, Google Play, Google Plus. YouTube, Google Talk, Google Places, Google Navigation, Google Downloads are trademarks of Google Inc.

About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in technology, opening new possibilities for people everywhere. Through relentless innovation and discovery, we are transforming the worlds of televisions, smartphones, personal computers, printers, cameras, home appliances, LTE systems, medical devices, semiconductors and LED solutions. We employ 270,000 people across 79 countries with annual sales of US$187.8 billion. To discover more, please visit www.samsung.com.

Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Announced [Press Release/Specs]

By: Unknown on: Thursday, September 05, 2013

Samsung Unveils the Galaxy Gear Smartwatch

Samsung has just taken the wraps off the Galaxy Gear smartwatch during the Unpacked event, and it is definitely a bit different than what we have seen in the leaks.

The Gear doesn’t look too large; with a 1.63-inch Super AMOLED screen, it should fit on most wrists without overwhelming them. It has a resolution of 320 x 320. At that size, it equates to 277 ppi. Very respectable.

The 2MP BSI camera is built into the strap and will take images and 10-second videos at 720p.

Powering the Gear is an 800MHz processor. It has 4GB of storage and 512MB of RAM. A 315 mAh battery can supposedly power the watch for 25 hours. Bluetooth 4.0 is, of course, present to connect the Gear to your smartphone. The Gear also packs two mics, a speaker, an accelerometer and a gyroscope.

As for the software question: Samsung has 70 partners at launch. These partners includes Evernote, Path, RunKeeper, MyFitnessPal, TripIt, Line, Vivino, eBay, Pocket, Banjo and Atooma.

Now one big downside of the Galaxy Gear. It’s only compatible with the Note 3 and Note 10.1 at launch. The Galaxy S4, S3 and Note II will gain support with an update to Android 4.3.

I will update this post as more information about Gear becomes available.

Samsung Unveils the Galaxy Gear Smartwatch

By: Unknown on: Wednesday, September 04, 2013

Sony Officially Unveils the Xperia Z1 at IFA

After spending much of the year tossing about in the rumor mill, Sony’s latest flagship smartphone has become a reality. Sony today announced the Xperia Z1, a gorgeous 5-inch Android handset with tons of power and flexibility.

Specifications include a 2.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon processor, 16GB internal storage, 2GB RAM, 3000mAh battery, and Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. The real standout feature, however, is the 1/2.3-type 20.7MP “Exmor RS for mobile” CMOS image sensor. Impressive to be sure, but it gets even better if you pair the Xperia Z1 with one of the new Cyber-shot QX10 and QX100 lens cameras.

Like its predecessor, the Xperia Z, this model is also waterproof and features many Sony software touches. The Xperia Z1 boasts PlayMemories Online, BRAVIA TV technology, “WALKMAN” and Movies applications, and ClearAudio+ technology.

Sony says the phone will launch starting in September however the company stopped short of any additional info. Look for pricing and availability details to surface as various carriers announce support for the Sony Xperia Z1.

Sony

Sony Officially Unveils the Xperia Z1 at IFA

By: Unknown on: Wednesday, September 04, 2013

IFA 2013 - What to Expect

After a relatively low-key CES and MWC earlier this year, it’s time for IFA the annual consumer electronics show held in Berlin at the end of the summer. And this year’s IFA looks to be the the busiest yet for major Android product unveilings. The show proper begins Friday, Sept. 6, but the big press conferences start from Wednesday, Sept. 4.

IFA has traditionally been a major event for Samsung, and of course the Korean company is sure to have its share of big announcements this year, too. But we’re also expecting phones, tablets, cameras and more from other manufacturers like Sony and LG.

IFA 2013 - What to Expect

By: Unknown on: Saturday, August 31, 2013